SavantMD: Health and Wellness » vitamin d

Learn How To Avoid Vitamin D Deficiency ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:00:09 +0000

Most of us don’t get enough Vitamin D, Dr. Savant tells you how to get enough.

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Vitamin D deficiency is the latest hot topic in medicine and for good reason: most of us don’t get enough of it because we spend most of our time indoors and when we’re outdoors we’re usually wearing sunscreen. Think about it. How much time do you really spend outside? I’ll bet that for most people it’s less than an hour a day. We get most of our Vitamin D from the UVB rays from sunshine. The sunshine activates a previtamin D in our skins which, after further processing in our liver and kidneys is converted into an active form. Vitamin D is important in the incorporation of calcium into our bones.

It is also being discovered that it is a factor in the function and protection of every tissue in the body. People at more severe risk of vitamin D deficiency include babies that are breast fed exclusively, people who are sun-phobic, and the elderly, especially if they live in nursing homes. A good way to get enough vitamin D is to get at least 15-30 minutes of sun exposure on your arms or legs every day or to take 1000 or 2000 units of a vitamin D supplement daily. And don’t forget, the darker the skin you have the more sunshine you need.

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Low Levels of Vitamin D May Increase the Risk for Allergies ~ Health & Wellness

SavantMD — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:00:13 +0000

There may be a relationship between vitamin D and allergies.

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We’ve talked about vitamin D deficiency before and it’s association with osteoporosis but there was an interesting study that was published recently that found that low levels of vitamin D in young people age 17 or less were associated with an increased risk for certain environmental allergies. The allergies were most notable against peanut, ragweed and oak trees. Vitamin D deficiency in adults had no impact on allergies. So, just a reminder, here are some good ways to get your vitamin D: 15 minutes of sunshine a day on your arms or legs, eating fatty fish or fortified dairy products, or taking a supplement 600 to 1000 IU’s a day.

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Lack of Sunlight Can Negatively Influence Your Health ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 05:00:17 +0000

Research suggests light in the blue spectrum makes us feel better.

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Most people will agree that they feel better when they get some sunlight or get to spend some time outdoors during the day. People who live in the far Northern or Southern Hemispheres with their low light in the winter are more prone to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression brought on by little or no exposure to light. Recent research is now showing that it’s not just any light that makes us feel better but actually light in the blue spectrum, which we can get from sunlight or now, light boxes that shine blue light, not just the standard white light from a bulb. Intuitively this makes sense since, as human beings, we used to spend a lot more time outdoors than we have since the invention of the electric light bulb. I’ve had a few patients tell me that they actually sleep better at night, and feel better overall, if they get outside in the sun during the day. As I like to tell my patients, we live in our ancestors bodies, since we carry their DNA, but we don’t live our ancestors’ lives. The bottom line is to get outside in the daylight everyday for better health and a better mood.

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Learn How Chewing Can Influence Weight Loss ~ Health & Wellness Tip

Vitamin D Mega-Doses May not be Helpful ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:00:19 +0000

The only known function of Vitamin D is to help put calcium into our bones, and taking mega doses won’t make it happen any faster or better.

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I just wanted to let you know about a Vitamin D update. Recently, a panel of experts concluded that there is no evidence that taking mega doses of Vitamin D has any protective effect against a whole array of illnesses which include heart disease and diabetes. The only known function of Vitamin D is to help put calcium into our bones, and taking mega doses won’t make it happen any faster or better. Most people will get enough Vitamin D from the foods they eat since it is now added to many dairy products and is found naturally in egg yolks, fatty fish like tuna and mackerel, and beef liver. For people who follow a Vegan diet taking a Vitamin D supplement of 800 to 1000 IU daily may be necessary. Overall, I think this report is a good reminder of how to approach taking supplements. All of the vitamins and minerals we need can come from the food we eat and are best gotten that way. There is no one vitamin or substance alone that will be the magic bullet to cure all ills. And there is no substitute for a healthy diet that includes a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein from beans, legumes or meat. Oh, and don’t forget the exercise. Our bodies were made to move so it’s important to get away from the computer for a while and walk at the very least.

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How To Avoid Vitamin D Deficiency ~ Health & Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:00:47 +0000

Most of us don’t get enough Vitamin D, Dr. Savant tells you how to get enough.

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Vitamin D ~ Health and Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:58:07 +0000

Vitamin D is an important vitamin for many reasons. Watch this health and wellness tip from Dr. Savant to learn more.

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Vitamin D ~ Health and Wellness Tip

SavantMD — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:27:14 +0000

Vitamin D is an important vitamin for many reasons. Watch this health and wellness tip from Dr. Savant to learn more.

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